Shabbat Shalom Nov. 13, 2015

TMI, a little Too Much (quantity of) Information was included in last week’s email. Sorry to overload you but at least the info was actuate. Seems the discussion this week is the truthfulness of our presidential candidates. In this day and age, when everything can be fact-checked instantaneously, why would candidates “embellish” when their factual lives are impressive enough. Honesty is an honorable trait that deserves respect and recognition but dishonesty is the demon some wield too freely.

Health Check

Keeping with the TMI theme and my constant attempt to provide healthful information, here is a website that compliments the Squatty Potty (mentioned a few months ago) with an important chart about your “masterpieces”. Warning, avoid this website if you prefer to stay oblivious about your insides. http://www.viralnova.com/poops/?utm_content=inf_10_2454_2&mb=wh5p&ts_pid=2

Lessons Learned

The rise of hateful racist remarks (seemingly ignored) and disgusting displays (one included the source of the above paragraph smeared into a nazi symbol) plus the boycott of theU of Missouri football team, resulted in the resignation of the University President. But more effort is needed to address our campus (and nation’s) racism problem. Hatred is taught (not innate) and we must work hard to reach our country’s crevices where it is perpetuated from generation to generation.

Sensitivity Training

Racial slurs are the unintended outcome that occurs from many sports teams. For example, Native Americans are offended by the Washington Redskins yet they refuse to change their name even after a Federal Judge cancelled the team’s trademark in July. Apparently, 2000 High Schools have similar names and now Adidas has offered to financially help any school who is willing to change their insensitive name. California schools need to get on the bandwagon since last month they banned the use of the name Redskins from any school team. http://usatodayhss.com/2015/adidas-offers-help-to-schools-that-want-to-change-native-american-team-names

Deck Stacked Against Israel

Teaching hatred to young minds is prevalent within the Palestinian culture. While their counterparts here in the US learn pleasant nursery rhymes and cheerful songs, their Palestinian peers are learning to hate and kill their “enemy”. Google, for yourself, the words Palestinian Children’s TV,Textbooks or Songs and see what pops up. Because of this curricular (and social media) brainwashing, each and every week, there are random acts of stabbings and car rammings keeping Israelis on constant guard. The deck always seem stacked against Israel with a double standard including this week’s European Union requirement to forbid “Made in Israel” labels on all merchandise made in East Jerusalem, Golan Heights and West Bank. The new labels must state “Made in Settlements”. This augments the BDS movement to sanction Israel while ignoring hundreds of other disputed global territories with no labeling requirements. The Israeli Ambassador to the EU explains the frustration on this BBC radio story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p037s2lv

L’Chaim

Even with the deck stacked against her, Israel continues to rank highest on many surveys including this month’s news that she is the 6th healthiest nation according to this Bloomberg Report. Singapore tops the list at #1 while the US dips to #33, while Swaziland brings up the rear at dead last. Here’s the full list: http://tinyurl.com/healthiestCountries

Teen Talk

Imagine if you could talk to your teenage self while you are in your 50s. That’s exactly what Peter Emshwiller has done with this extremely creative film he started in 1977 and is completing this year. Check out this trailer:

As a continuation of last week’s Alanis Morissette remake of her famous song, Ironic, this week’s version with James Corden tops them all with a fresh take on modern times. I think you’ll find it very entertaining. I laughed out loud a few times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GVJpOmaDyU&feature=youtu.be

Support our Vets

As we commemorated Veterans Day this week, I commend and salute all soldiers who’ve fought and served to keep our homelands (yes, plural) safe. We need to do a better job at taking care of all Veterans for the rest of their lives. Thank you,Nancy Schlichting, for taking on the national role to improve the desperately needed health care for our Vets.